Vehicle-use obstacle detection apparatus

Abstract

The vehicle-use obstacle detection apparatus having a plurality of obstacle detection sensors installed at different places of a vehicle is configured to control a voice warning device such that, when two or more of the obstacle detection sensors have detected obstacles in succession, voice messages indicative of directions in which the detected obstacles are present respectively are outputted in succession in ascending order of value of the obstacle distance.

1 . A vehicle-use obstacle detection apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of obstacle detection sensors installed at different places of a vehicle, each of the obstacle detection sensors being configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave, receive a reflected version of the ultrasonic wave, and output a detection signal indicative of the reflected version having been received;   a distance calculation means to calculate a distance to a detected obstacle as an obstacle distance based on the detection signal for each of the obstacle detection sensors;   a voice warning device to output information by voice indicative of a direction in which the detected obstacle is present when the obstacle distance is smaller than a predetermined distance;   a control means to control the voice warning device; and   a storage means to store the obstacle distance calculated by the distance calculation means together with identification information identifying the obstacle detection sensor that has outputted the detection signal based on which the obstacle distance has been calculated,   wherein   the control means is configured to control the voice warning device such that, when two or more of the obstacle detection sensors have detected obstacles in succession, voice messages indicative of directions in which the detected obstacles are present respectively are outputted in succession in ascending order of value of the obstacle distance.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle-use obstacle detection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control means is configured to control the voice warning device such that, when two or more of the obstacle detection sensors have detected obstacles in succession, a preliminary sound indicative of two or more obstacles having been detected is outputted before the voice messages are outputted. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle-use obstacle detection apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the preliminary sound is outputted a number of times equal to the number of the detected obstacles. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle-use obstacle detection apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the preliminary sound is changed in tone depending on the number of the detected obstacles. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle-use obstacle detection apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control means is configured to control the voice warning device such that, when two of the obstacle detection sensors have detected obstacles in succession, voice messages indicative of directions in which the detected obstacles are present respectively are outputted in succession in ascending order of value of the obstacle distance, and when three of more of the obstacle detection sensors have detected obstacles in succession, a voice message to encourage a vehicle drive to be cautious is outputted.